The Franklin News-Post
P. O. Box 250
310 Main Street, SW
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151
540-483-5113
Fax: 540-483-8013
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Friday, July 3, 2009
Congratulations to the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum at Ferrum College on its new exhibit: Virginia Rocks -- A History of Rockabilly in the Commonwealth. Since the BRI is on The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail, having an exhibit related to such a piece of musical history is all the more appropriate.
Roddy Moore, the BRI's very creative and visionary director, actually started thinking about such an exhibit many years ago on a trip to London. While there, he saw an album, "Virginia Rock-a-Billy and Country." He saw that the album was produced in Holland and made from master tapes recorded by Ted Prillaman in Collinsville. It really can be a small world.
From that chance encounter, the current exhibit was born.
It is also interesting to note, as Mr. Moore said, the rockabilly phenomenon may not have happened without the influence of Elvis Presley. "Elvis changed everything. All of the guys with a guitar playing country style music were switching over to the new style of music that was sweeping the nation," Moore said.
The influence of Elvis, often called the King of Rock n' Roll, has been reflected on recently due to the death of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, who changed the face of music in his own right.
This exhibit gives us a glimpse back at a time when the roots of this "new style of music" were evolving, and musicians from Virginia played a part in that evolution.
Please stop by the BRI and enjoy the exhibit. We're sure it will be big hit.
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